France - Provence - Verdon - Cycling tour from Digne to Nice

Self-guided bike tour from the Verdon to the French Riviera, ending in Nice.

This is the most beautiful cycling route across the South of France .This self-guided bike tour from Verdon to Côte d’Azur, by road or electric bike leaves Digne, the capital of Haute Provence and winds its way through corn and lavender fields of the Valensole plateau one of the most beautiful places of Haute Provence.

The Rubicon that has to be crossed is called the Verdon. It is quite challenging to cross, not just because it is the deepest canyon in Europe, but also because of the plateau standing more than 1,000 metres above sea level. That is the reason why you will appreciate the help of an electric bike.

From there, you can practically freewheel all the way down to the nearby Mediterranean. You will reach the sea near Fréjus and Saint Raphaël and explore with your bike or electric bike the best-preserved areas of the Riviera: the Maures massif and the Esterel coastal road. The bike tour ends by the most famous towns of the French Riviera: Cannes, Juan les Pins and Antibes.

Our aim is to make this dramatic self-guided cycling holiday accessible to any cyclist. The stages are of intermediate level: sixty kilometres per day with a maximum ascent/descent of 1,200 metres in one day. Our high-quality electric bicycles will help you climb hills with the minimum of effort. Your luggage will be transferred from stage to stage.

Day 1

NICE – DIGNE LES BAINS
Nice – Digne Les Bains
From Nice to Digne the trip with the Train des Pignes is 160 km long and a 3 hourtrip. It is one of the most picturesque railway routes in France. If you are traveling independently, you will travel with your bicycle and your luggage.
We recommend to arrive in Nice before 10h30.
You must take the first train from Nice at 1:00 pm to be able to travel to Digne on the 1st day, otherwise you will have to stay one extra night in Nice.
Once you arrive at your hotel in Digne, your bikes will be delivered, as well as the saddlebags and the documentation.

Day 2

DIGNE LES BAINS – ORAISON
The first stage is a descent towards the valley of the Durance River.
There are three different routes: Easy/Moderate/Difficult
ask our technical sheet

Day 3

ORAISON – RIEZ (the lavender fields)
This day can be long or short, depending on the route you choose to follow across the lavender plateau of Valensole that stretches as far as the eye can see. We suggest three different routes: ask our technical sheet

Day 4

RIEZ – AIGUINES (From the plateau of Valensole to the Verdon gorges)
Cross the Valensole plateau, the river Verdon on the lake of Ste Croix. Follow the banks of the lake andl climb up to the hill-top village of Aiguines, 800 metres above sea level, which overlooks the lake and the entrance to the gorges of the Verdon.
Choose one out of two routes.
We suggest three different routes: ask our technical sheet

Day 5

AIGUINES – BARGEMON (the Grand Canyon of the Verdon)
In the morning, take the dramatic“Grand Canyon route (on the left bank of the river Verdon), also known as the “Corniche Sublime”. Cross the plateau de Canjuers via Comps sur Artuby and descend towards the village of Bargemon after the Bel Homme pass (+915 metres), from which you can see the Mediterranean. 63 km (+1,200 m./-1,500 m).

Day 6

BARGEMON – VIDAUBAN (through the vineyards of Côtes de Provence).
Spend the day descending from the hill-top villages of Haut Var to the Natural Park on the Maures plain. This area, set back from the coast is the best-preserved in the whole Provence.
Two routes:
1°) EASY. 50 km. (+1,070-m /-1,300 m.)
2°) DIFFICULT.. 90km, (+1170m et -1580m

Day 7

VIDAUBAN - SAINT RAPHAEL (AGAY) (From the crests of the Maures to the shores of the Riviera)
This route is undoubtedly the most beautiful of the Maures Massif. It will take you from the plains to the highest ridges at 300 metres above sea level and offer outstanding views over the Mediterranean. These roads are not busy at all and some are not open to motor vehicles. Please note however that from 21 June to 30 September they may be closed to hikers and cyclists due to fire risk.

Day 8

SAINT RAPHAEL (AGAY) – NICE (the French Riviera)
The Estérel coast road, chiselled out of the red rock between Agay and Théoule, then the bay of Cannes. In the afternoon, a tour of Cap d’Antibes and return to Nice via the coastal cycle path and the Promenade des Anglais.
Bring back the bicycles to the renting company in the evening (before 6pm) or the next morning.
Intermediate stage, quite long but not difficult. 70 km, with total ascents/descents of 590 metres.